Success Spotlight
Upward Bound - College Prep Program
Early this past school year, Stephanie Soto was struggling. Her workload included such demanding classes as Trigonometry and Anatomy.
"She felt like she was in over her head," says Ms. Vargas. "At the six-week point, her grades showed that she was struggling. Her first instinct was to quit the program."
Sadly, this is the choice many young, impulsive students make when things are tough. Stephanie was about to quit. She lost her drive, and had stopped coming to her required tutoring sessions. By the 12-week point, she was failing.
Ms. Vargas saw this familiar path coming. She talked with Stephanie about the importance of following through, building on the work she'd already put forth. Her tutors made extra effort to encourage her to stay with the program, emphasizing that the people and resources of Upward Bound were there for her.
"The kids must be engaged," Ms. Vargas notes. "They have to see that what we're doing is for their benefit. Our required tutoring, our monthly Saturday academy, anything that requires commitment on their part, they need to understand that what they do today is going to build their tomorrow."
The extra effort was beginning to make an impact. Stephanie applied herself more, and started coming to her tutoring sessions more often. She came during lunch and after school. Her attitude was improving. She wanted to be there.
To vividly show that higher education is "real" and can be part of her future, Ms. Vargas signed Stephanie up for a field trip to the University of Southern California. There, she saw the life of the college student firsthand. She saw that there's "a world outside of high school."
"Seeing the fun side of college life made her want it more," says Ms. Vargas. "But we emphasized that these kids are here because they work hard. It's not all fun and games."
Stephanie's efforts in the program continued to improve. She ended the first semester with a 3.12 GPA, an amazing boost from months prior, when she was failing with a 2.75 GPA and about to give up.
Vargas credits Stephanie's turn-around to a combination of the tutoring staff, the program's resources, the eye-opening field trip, and the support of Stephanie's mother. The goal of Upward Bound and Reading And Beyond is to have more stories like Stephanie's.
About Upward Bound: In 2007, Reading And Beyond received a four-year federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education to begin Upward Bound, a college prep program created in partnership with Central Unified School District. Upward Bound provides support for college preparation for high school students, offering an array of activities including tutoring, academic, financial and personal counseling, mentoring, cultural enrichment and work study opportunities throughout the academic school year.